Peter Slipper
’s decision to step aside as Speaker has added to a growing resentment of politics within his seat of Fisher on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Daniel Pignat, a builder whose business, Coastal Modern Living Constructions, has survived the downturn, said he thought Mr Slipper had abandoned the real concerns of the electorate.

“I think Peter Slipper is in it for himself. That’s a pretty harsh thing to say but it’s the truth," Mr Pignat said. “I don’t think he has done enough for us here. He has just been flying around the country on our expenses. But I have given up hope on politicians from both parties now," Mr Pignat said.

Mr Slipper, who quit the Liberal Party when he became Speaker, will not recontest Fisher at the next election. He won the seat in 2010 with a swing to him of 0.6 per cent for a margin of 4.1 per cent.

But for some in the electorate of Fisher, such as Gerry Bell, owner of outfitter RM Williams in Caloundra, Mr Slipper, who is facing allegations of criminal behaviour, is a victim of politics and the media.

“I think he has been incessantly harangued by the media with all sorts of allegations," Mr Bell said.

“You can’t believe what anyone is saying now but we know one thing and that is these allegations are very detrimental to the person involved.

“Despite all the crap, especially about his financial interests, I think Mr Slipper has been a classic member who has paid a lot of attention to the coast."

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The Sunshine Coast remains a crucial battleground between the two political parties.

Major infrastructure is being planned there, including the $2 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital for which the former state Labor government was expected to make an $820 million commitment.

The state Liberal National Party originally said it wanted to make $400 million in savings from the Sunshine Coast project to divert funds to other election promises, but that has since been revised to $180 million over four years.

Premier
Campbell Newman
has remained considerably less vocal on the issues surrounding Mr Slipper than those of his federal conservative counterparts.

Mr Newman did not ask for Mr Slipper to be stood aside as Speaker and said he did not want to “buy into it". “It is my clear view that, notwithstanding the allegations, the individual concerned needs to be afforded natural justice," Mr Newman said.